Periodic Report of Nanda Devi National Park , Uttaranchal , India December 2002 Chief Wildlife Warden Uttaranchal Forest Department Uttaranchal , India. If the space on the Questionnaire is not sufficient, please continue on a separate page, clearly labelling the answer with the corresponding number of the question (e.g. 006). - 1 - PERIODIC REPORTING EXERCISE ON THE APPLICATION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION State of Conservation of specific World Heritage properties State Party: Government of Uttaranchal Property Name: Nanda Devi National Park If the space on the Questionnaire is not sufficient, please continue on a separate page, clearly labelling the answer with the corresponding number of the question (e.g. 006). - 2 - II.1 - Introduction a. Country (and State Party if different): Country - India , State Govt - Uttaranchal , Region 001 - Garhwal , District - Chamoli . b. Name of World Heritage property: Nanda Devi National Park , India 002 c. In order to locate the property precisely, please attach a topographic map showing scale, 003 orientation, projection, datum, site name, date and graticule. The map should be an original print and not be trimmed. The site boundaries should be shown on the map. In addition they can be submitted in a detailed description, indicating topographic and other legally defined national, regional, or international boundaries followed by the site boundaries. The State Parties are encouraged to submit the geographic information in digital form so that it can be integrated into a Geographic Information System (GIS). On this questionnaire indicate the geographical co-ordinates to the nearest second (in the case of large sites, towns, areas etc., give at least 3 sets of geographical co-ordinates): Topographic Map - Attached , Scale 1 inch = 2 mile (Annexure I) Coordinates : 30o 16 ' to 30o 32 ' North 79o 44' to 80o 02 ' East d. Give the date of inscription on the World Heritage List and subsequent extension 004 (if applicable): 9.12.1988 e. Organisation(s) or entity(ies) responsible for the preparation of this report. Organisation(s) / entity(ies): Forest Department , State - Uttaranchal , India 005 Person(s) responsible : 1. A.K.Banerjee , Divisional Forest Officer , Nanda Devi National Park Address: Forest Complex , PO- Joshimath , Dist - Chamoli, Uttaranchal , India City and post code: Joshimath . Telephone: 91- 1389 – 22179 Fax: 91- 1389 – 22179 Postal Code – 246443 2. Jyotsna Sitling, Conservator/ Director, Nandadevi Biosphere Reserve. Address: PO- Gopeshwar, Dist – Chamoli, Uttaranchal, India. Postal Code- 246401 3. B.D Kandpal , Chief Wildlife Warden , Address: Forest Complex , Dilaram Bazar , PO- Dehradun, Dist - Dehradun , Uttaranchal , India City and post code: Dehradun . Postal Code - 248001 Telephone: 91-135- 741607 Fax: 91- 135 – 744225 f. Date of preparation of the report: 15.12.2002 006 g. Signature on behalf of the State Party 007 Signature: …………………………………………………………. Name: Function: If the space on the Questionnaire is not sufficient, please continue on a separate page, clearly labelling the answer with the corresponding number of the question (e.g. 006). - 3 - II.2. Statement of significance At the time of inscribing a property on the World Heritage List, the World Heritage 008 Committee indicates its outstanding universal value(s), or World Heritage value(s), by deciding on the criteria for which the property deserved to be included on the World Heritage List. Circle the criteria retained for the inscription: Cultural criteria: i – ii – iii – iv – v – vi Natural criteria: i – ii – iii – iv Natural Criteria ( iii ) & ( iv ) Were new criteria added by re-nominating and/or extending the property after the original 009 inscription? YES / NO NO If YES, please explain: N.A 010 Please quote observations concerning the property made by the Advisory Body(ies) during 011 the evaluation of the nomination: The following observations were made - " Nanda Devi National Park is an outstanding mountain wilderness with few if any parallels elsewhere in the Himalayas on account of its concentration of high peaks and glaciers lying within a range of near - pristine habitats. It lies within a bio geographical transition zone between the Western and Eastern Himalayas and supports a variety of threatened and uncommon species of large mammals. The present status of these populations is not known but may have suffered from poaching since 1981-84 when they were last surveyed by the Zoological Survey of India. The site merits inclusion in the World Heritage List on the basis of its exceptional natural beauty criteria (iii) and populations of rare and threatened mammals criteria (iv). Integrity concerns are the lack of an adequate management plan approved by the State authority, absence of routine patrolling within the " Inner Sanctuary " and an up-to date report on wildlife populations . Moreover, as world heritage site it is expected that Nanda Devi National Park will receive increasing demands to open the park to controlled visitations ." 012 Quote the decisions and observations / recommendations, if appropriate, made by the World Heritage Committee at the time of inscription and extension (if applicable): The following recommendations were made by the evaluation committee - " Nanda Devi Park should be added to the World Heritage List. The bureau should request the Indian authorities to provide clarifications on the following points: Present status of the management plan. Frequency and extent of patrolling within the " Inner Sanctuary ". Future Policy regarding provisions for tourism. Present status of wildlife populations, particularly large mammals such as blue sheep. If the National Park is reopened for mountaineering and trekking, the authorities might wish to approach the World Heritage Committee for assistance in planning and managing tourism. Possibilities might include: Provision of Technical assistance to develop a plan for controlling nature tourism, with benefits accruing directly to the local community; Training of staff and park guides in park management, with special emphasis on managing nature tourism in mountain areas. The authorities might also wish to seek assistance to carry out a wildlife status survey. If the space on the Questionnaire is not sufficient, please continue on a separate page, clearly labelling the answer with the corresponding number of the question (e.g. 006). - 4 - Identify the actions taken as follow-up to these observations and/or decisions: 013 Present status of the management plan. The Nanda Devi National park is now being managed as a core zone of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve for which a duly approved management plan has been prepared . A extract of management plan with Annual Plan of Operation (APO) for 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 is enclosed in Annexure - II. Basing on this management plan an Annual Plan of operation is prepared every year in the month of April , which is first discussed in the district level committee in which all the district level officers and local people's representative ( village heads ) take part. After passing of the Annual Plan of Operation at the District Level Committee, the APO is sent to the State Level Committee for approval which is then sent to the Ministry of Environment of Forest, Govt. of India for release of funds under UNESCO's Man and Biosphere project. The works generally start from the month of June onwards every year . Apart from this, World Bank funded Eco - Development project is also being carried out in 14 villages out of the 47 villages of buffer area. Funds have been released to the Eco Development Committee directly on the basis of Micro Plan prepared with the community. The Park authorities have been playing the role of facilitator for Eco Development committees for ecological awareness and economic development of members. Efforts are being made to utilise the financial support of this project as seed money for the revolving fund of the community. The process of loaning for individual as well as groups and the rotation frequency have remained very encouraging. This has increased the involvement of the community in eco-development activities of the region. Process of formation of Eco-Development committee in rest of 33 NDBR villages is in progress. Frequency and extent of patrolling within the " Inner Sanctuary ". As stated above the Nanda Devi National Park is being managed as a core zone of the NDBR. This core zone is a strict conservation area. and minimum disturbance is made in the inner sanctuary except periodic monitoring works which are carried out in close association with scientific and expert institutions like Wildlife Institute of India and GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development. Every year provision is kept in the APO for the protection works in the inner sanctuary which is funded by Central Government. In this APO, provisions of Long Range ( !0 days duration ) and Short Range ( 3 days ) patrolling is provided for. Strict patrolling in the outer boundary of the park specially in the winter months when poachers become most active is carried out . The inner sanctuary automatically remained safe because of it's unique setting (bowl shapes with high mountain peaks all around and nonnegotiable snow covered paths ) . The park is bounded by high mountain ridges and peaks on all sides except its western side, which features a deep and virtually inaccessible gorge. Some of the important peaks encircling the National Park are Dunagiri ( 7066 Mt ) , Changbang ( 6864 Mt ) , Kalnka ( 6931 Mt ) , Rishi Pahar ( 6992 Mt ) , Mangraon ( 6765 Mt ) , Nanda Khat ( 6631 Mt ) , Maiktoli ( 6803 Mt ) , Mrigthuni ( 6655 Mt ) , Trishul -1 ( 7120 Mt ) , Trishul-II ( 6319 Mt ) ,Bethartoli Himal ( 6352 Mt ) and Nanda Devi East ( 7434 Mt ) . Nanda Devi main ( 7817 Mt ) , Devisthan -1 ( 6529 ) , Devisthan -II ( 6678 Mt ) and Hanuman ( 6070 Mt. ) peaks are situated inside the park . From May to Sept occasional ( sudden ) patrol is done in the inner sanctuary in a very careful manner so that the wild animals are least disturbed . Patrol in the inner sanctuary also automatically takes place when wildlife guards and any scientific team goes inside with special permission.